The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-07-07

amounting to $3,785, 163,353, and 1t cost
them to do il only $3,557053.
Had the old line companies handled the
:, same amount of business the beneficiary
orders did, at their own rate of cost for
what business they did, it would have cost
them over sixty millions of dollars, while
the beneficiary orders handled 1t at an
actual cost of little over three millions
of dollars.
The policy holders in old line com
panies must depend upon not more than
one third the amount collected In
premiums to pay all death losses, while
the members of the A. o. U. W. depend
upon the whole number of cur
rent assessments to pay their
death losses, the distinction being
that, for every dollar collected from US an
old line company, under like honest ad
ministration, must collect So.
These are facts CLEANED from reliable
and authentic insurance statistics.
great many people say they don't
want to engage in any transaction that
they will have to die in order to beat. The
truth is, there is but one way to beat an
insurance company, and that is by dying.
Yet who of us cares to beat it at the sacri-
fee of life? There may be difference, in
this respect, between an old line insurance
company and our order. There certainly
is this difference, that when you die you
don't beat the order out of 81, but your
benefciaries-your wife and your little
ones, if you have them, merely collsct the
$4,000, the amount of your policy, out of
the fund that was already on hand prior
to your death
Let me explain that little. seid that
the amount was already collected and on
hand before the death of the member
When a person becomes a member of our
order he is required to pay his first assess
ment in advance, and on or before the
29th day of every month thereafter, he is
called upon to pay another assessment,
which keeps him with one assessment paid
up in advance all the time. Should he die
before the next assessment falls due. or
should any member in good standing die,
or should even 900 members die during
any one month, there is money enough on
hand and collected in the various treasur-
les of the subordinate lodges, and in the
treasury of the Supreme lodge, to pay
each death benefit at once, for with 1872
600 members at 81 each, paid in advance,
we have $1S2,000, which will pay 901 death
benefits at $4,000 each, and, besides, we
have still further guarantee of its speedy
payment, from the fact that the trustees
of our local lodge, that to which we be
longed while living, will take charge of its
collection, and they are sworn to pay the
money over to the parties who are named
in the certificate as benefciaries.
They will just as surely perform this
sacred duty, as they will expect it to be
performed for them when their time to
die shall come.
Up to the 1st of last month there had
been 1926 deaths in our order, on which
had been paid $2,452,OO0. There had been
Just 300 assessments, showing an average
assessment of about $15 per year for the
nineteen years of our existence. Who of
you cannot afford to pay $15 a year for
an insurance of $4,000? We have been
guaranteed by the supreme lodge of our
order that in no event will the assessments
amount to over 1914 year. Think of it!
Even $24 year for $4,000 insurance.
Again, should adversely befall any of
our local lodges; should any of the various
ills that flesh is heir to be visited upon us
in epidemic form, and our members be
cut down one after another until but few
are left, then the supreme lodge comes to
our relief, and, without increasing di
rectly the number of assessments, it issues
a ''relief call'' for 81 each, and these 1922
600 members have pledged themselves to
promptly respond to that call whenever
issued, and that money is always on hand
in the lodge treasury to meet the call.
The dues of subordinate lodge usually
amount to So year. 1t is claimed by
many old line insurance companies that
you save this amount by taking out a
straight policy of insurance; but is there
one who would not willingly pay this
small sum for the purpose of having three
good and true members of his lodge to
take charge of the collection of his benefit
certificate after his death, and to watch
over aid protect the interest of the friends
he leaves behind?
Who is there among you that would not
feel better, would not feel happier and
more contented when he lays himself down
at night with the thought that should
die before wake 1 thank God that my
loved ones will be cared for? Although
you may be rich now in this worlds goods,
and imagine you need not the little sum
of $4,000 which we offer, still, trouble ad
versity or bankruptcy may overtake you,
and,ere you are aware of it, the fact of your
ruin may stare you in the face. Suppose,
then, that you have passed the age of fifty
years, and no mutual aid association will
admit you, how do you suppose you will
feel when you look upon the forms and
into the faces of your loved ones?
Think of this, my friends. We cannot
beg of you to join with us in our good
work, but we can ask you to give the sub
ject your careful consideration.
A few weeks ago a banker of our city,
and one of the most successful inanciers
in this country, said: II want to join
your order, for believe it to be a good
one, but am not really working man
as understand the word, although 1 work
as hard with my brain as many do with
their hands," The objects of our order
were explained to him, and he is now a
member of our lodge.
Within the past two months over score
of our most prominent business men have
Joined our order, and but few days ago
another one, who is known to all, and
whose hand is now assisting in this